Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Lithosiidæ.
Genus. Deiopeia, Stephens. Euchelia, Boisduval. Eyprepia p. Ochs.
Deiopeia Ornatrix. Alis convolutis albidis, anticarum margine rubro atropunctato, posticis albo nigroque variis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Noctua) ornatrix, Linn. S. N. 2. 839. No. 110.
Bombyx ornatrix, Fab. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 480. No. 225. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2444. 110. Oliv. Enc. Méth. 5. 100. No. 258.
Habitat: Antigua (Drury). America (Linn. Fabr.).
Upper Side. Antennæ black, filiform. Head with a black frontal spot; tongue spiral. Thorax flesh-coloured, with small black spots. Anterior wings fine flesh-coloured; the anterior edges being bordered with scarlet, except four small white places, in each of which is a small black spot; near the base is a red cordate spot, with a small black one above it; near the external margin is a row of small black spots; above this is a row of red ones, nearly joining together, and nearly united to the red border at the anterior edge, and above this is another row of black ones. Posterior wings clear white, their external edges with large angular spots of black, one of them running to the anterior edge.
Under Side. Anterior wings fine deep scarlet, but next the shoulders white, as is the cilia, where, joining to it, is a row of very small black spots; a little above this is a black irregular line, running from the anterior edge to the lower angle; above this line is another, shorter, reaching half way across the wings. Posterior wings clear white, spotted with the same black angular spots, as on the upper side; the anterior edges being of the same scarlet colour as the superior wings.
Plate XXIV. fig. 3.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Lithosiidæ.
Genus. Deiopeia, Stephens. Euchelia. Boisduval. Eyprepia p. Ochs.
Deiopeia Bella. Alis anticis albidis, fasciis sex punctorum nigrorum fasciis fulvis divisis; posticis rubris apice nigris. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Tinea) bella, Linn. S. N. 2. 884. No. 348. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 479. No. 223. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2447. 348. Oliv. Enc. Méth. 5. 99. 256.
Habitat: New York.
Upper Side. Antennæ black and filiform. Head with a small black spot between the antennæ. Thorax and abdomen white; on the former are several small black spots. Anterior wings of a fine yellow, with several white, narrow, irregular bars crossing them; having on each several small black spots; cilia white, and above it is a row of small black spots that almost joins it. Posterior wings faint scarlet, externally edged with a narrow black border; cilia white.
Under Side. The anterior wings fine scarlet, inclining along the anterior edge to yellow; where are several angular black spots, each lengthening as it approaches the tips; along the external margin is a row of small black spots. Posterior wings scarlet, edged with the same black border as on the upper side; on the anterior edge are two white spots, with black ones in their centres.
In the 'Systema Naturæ' this and the preceding most nearly allied species were placed far apart in the genera Noctua and Tinea. This species appears in May and August. The caterpillar is of the same colours as the anterior wing of the moth, and feeds on the blue lupine.
Plate XXV. fig. 1.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Sphinx, Auct.
Sphinx Carolina. Alis anticis fusco cinereoque variis, posticis fasciis 3-4 fuscis exterioribus dentatis; ciliâ albo nigroque variâ, abdomine maculis 10-12 lateralibus luteis. (Expans. Alar. 5 unc.)
Syn. Sphinx Carolina, Linn. S. N. 2. 798. No. 7. Brown. Jam. 438. t. 43. f. 17. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 363. No. 25. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2377. No. 7. Stephens Ill. Brit. Ent. H. 1. 118. Abbot & Smith, Ins. Georg. tab. 33. Curtis Brit. Ent. v. pl. 1. 197.
Habitat: New York, Maryland, Virginia.
Upper Side. Antennæ internally white, but externally brown. The head, thorax, and abdomen of a rusty grey brown; the sides of the latter having five oblong yellow spots, intersected by black lines, on each of which is a small white spot placed between the yellow ones. Anterior wings rusty grey brown, with a white spot at the base, and another small discoidal white one; a narrow irregular indented line of white begins near the interior angle, and runs nearly to the tip; several indented lines, nearly black, cross the wings, more or less distinct. Cilia brown, spotted with white. Posterior wings brown, darkest in the middle, the shoulders being nearly black, with an indented narrow bar of ash colour running across them, from the middle of the anterior edges to the anal angle; below this is a narrow black one, answering and joining to it.
Under Side. Breast and abdomen ash-coloured. Anterior wings brown, without any marks or shades, except two very faint undulated dark lines crossing them. Posterior wings, next the body, ash-coloured; the remainder being like the anterior, with some faint dark lines crossing them.
According to Abbot the caterpillar is pale green, with white lateral oblique stripes, and a pink tail. It is said to feed on the potato, tobacco, red pepper (Capsicum?), &c. One of these caterpillars, observed by Abbot, went into the ground on the 19th of June, and came out on the 15th of July; whilst another went in on the 8th of July, and came out on the 1st of August. The caterpillar is stated by the same author to be very destructive in plantations of tobacco, the cultivators being obliged to pick them carefully off the young plants. The chrysalis is of a chesnut colour, with a long nearly straight tongue case, extending to the middle of the breast, and clubbed at the end. The moth is generally seen in an evening, sucking the James-town weed and gourd blossoms, and continues breeding all the summer; the moth is common in the West Indies, as well as in Georgia and Carolina. Dr. Brown says it is called the musquito hawk, from its appearing at that time of the evening when those insects abound, and being vulgarly but erroneously supposed to prey upon them. Abbot and Smith, loc. cit.
Specimens of this American insect have from time to time been captured in this country. "It unquestionably cannot," however observes Mr. Stephens, "be considered as indigenous, and ought to be rigidly excluded from our cabinets; otherwise the most perplexing consequences must inevitably arise, to the total confusion of our inquiries into the geographical distribution of insects. If this be admitted, as well might 'the noble monarch of the forest,' because a captive lioness which had escaped from her prison was retaken on Salisbury Plain."
Plate XXV. fig. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia.? Family: Zygænidæ, Leach.
Genus. Syntomis, Illiger. Zygæna, Rossi. Fabr. Sphinx, Linn.
Syntomis Phegea. Viridi-atra alarum punctis fenestratis, anticarum sex, posticarum duobus; abdomine cingulo luteo. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Phegea, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 805. 35. God. Lepid. du Franc. pl. 22. f. 14.
Zygæna Quercûs, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 388. No. 6.
Syntomis Quercûs, Latr. Genera Crust. et Ins. 4. p. 213.
Sphinx du Pissenlit, Engram Pap. d'Eur.
Habitat: Germany.
Upper Side. Antennæ black, filiform, with the tips white. Head and thorax black. Abdomen dark green, almost black; on the top, next the thorax, is a deep yellow spot like gold, and near the extremity a ring of the same golden yellow extends just below the sides. Anterior wings dark green; having six transparent spots, one next the shoulders, two in the middle, and three next the tips. Posterior wings of the same colour as the superior, with two transparent spots on them.
Under Side. Breast and abdomen dark green; on each side the breast are two golden yellow spots. All the wings are coloured and marked as on the upper side.
Plate XXV. fig. 3.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia? Family: Zygænidæ, Leach.
Genus. Glaucopis, Fabr. Charidea, Dalm. Sphinx, Linn.
Glaucopis Fenestrata. Alis anticis nigris, maculâ magnâ discoidali fere ocellatâ fenestratâ, posticis fenestratis margine nigro, pedibus palpisque coccineis. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Fenestrata, Drury, App. v. 2.
Habitat: Jamaica.
Upper Side. Antennæ nearly black, and pectinated. Head and eyes black. Palpi small and long, and of a fine scarlet. Tongue spiral. Thorax blueish green, almost black. Abdomen dark brown. Anterior wings the same, the middle part being perfectly transparent like glass, wherein is a dark cloud which is joined to the anterior margin. Posterior wings small, transparent, with a dark brown narrow border running round their edges, which at the upper corners is broad where it becomes cloud-like.
Under Side. Breast dark brown. Legs and thighs scarlet, which colour extends along the middle of the abdomen, almost to the tail, where it becomes a little fainter, being crossed by the rings of the abdomen, which are black and very narrow. All the wings of the same colour as on the upper side.
Plate XXV. fig. 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Sphinx, Auct.
Sphinx Cingulata. Alis anticis cinereo atroque undatis, puncto parvo discoidali; posticis nigro fasciatis, basi sanguineis, abdominis fasciis alternis interruptis sanguineis et atris. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Cingulata, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 395. No. 56.
Sphinx Convolvuli var. Drury, Append. vol. 2. (Exclus. Syn. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2376. No. 6.) Abbot and Smith Ins. Georg. 1. tab. 32.
Habitat: St. Christopher's.
Upper Side. Antennæ white on one side, and brown on the other. Thorax dark brown, with several curved lines running across it from one shoulder to the other. The abdomen, on the upper part is beautifully encircled with five rings of rose colour, and six of black, extending to its sides, having on the top of it a line of a rusty brown, which runs from the base to the extremity. Anterior wings brown chesnut, marked with lighter and darker clouds, some of which are almost black; having a lighter spot near the middle, and not far from the anterior margin. Posterior wings at the base black, but along the external edges of a grey brown, the middle being occupied by three bars of red, ash, and faint rose colours, separated by three black waved lines crossing them from the anterior to the interior. Cilia brown spotted with white.
Under Side. Breast and abdomen ash-coloured; along the latter are five dark spots (the middle ones the largest) placed at the bottom of the five segments near the breast. Anterior wings dark hazel, immaculate. Posterior wings of the same colour along the anterior and external margins; but next the shoulders and inner edges are of a grey ash colour; a dark coloured line begins near the anal angle, where it is almost black, and runs across the wing, ending at the middle of the anterior edge; from whence to the middle it resembles a row of arches joined together.
The caterpillar of this insect, according to Abbot and Smith, is brown, with four dorsal dark flesh-coloured lines, and a series of short lateral oblique cream-coloured marks united together over the legs. It feeds upon the sweet potatoe plant (Convolvulus Batatas, Linn.), and is sometimes frequent though the moth is rare. The chrysalis is chesnut, with a long curved tongue case, the extremity of which is recurved. It is often dug up with the potatoes. In Virginia one of these insects buried itself October 3rd, and came forth in the perfect state on the 30th of May; whilst one observed in Georgia went into the ground on the 20th of August, and came out the 11th of September.
This species was considered by Drury and Smith as a climatal variety of the Europæan Sphinx Convolvuli. Fabricius, however, considered it distinct, and designated it by the specific name adopted above.
Plate XXVI. fig. 1.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia? Family: Zygænidæ, Leach.
Genus. Glaucopis, Fabr. Sphinx, Linn. Drury.
Glaucopis Polymena. Nigra, alis maculis luteis, anticis tribus, posticis duabus; abdomine cingulis coccineis. (Expans. Alar. fere 2 unc.)
Syn. Sphinx Polymena, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 806. No. 40. Cram. Ins. t. 13. f. D.
Zygæna Polymena, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 396. No. 34. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2394. 40. (Sphinx.)
Habitat: China.
Upper Side. Antennæ black and pectinated, being smallest at their extremities; between them is a white round spot placed on the front of the head; above them, on the neck, is a round spot of bright scarlet. Thorax black. The first segment of the abdomen scarlet; the two next are black, verged on their lower edges with a beautiful sky blue colour; behind this the abdomen is of a fine vermilion, separated by two small black lines, the extremity being black. Anterior wings dark brown, having next the shoulders a small spot of shining blue, and three spots of a deep yellow; the two largest of which appear as if divided by the tendons, which are black and run across them. Posterior wings dark brown, with two deep yellow spots; the smaller one near the shoulders, the other near the middle.
Under Side. Breast black, spotted with white at the base. The abdomen dark brown at the base, behind which is pale red tinged with white; the extremity dark brown. Anus pale red. The wings are the same colour as on the upper side.
Plate XXVI. fig. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia? Family: Zygænidæ, Leach.
Genus. Syntomis, Fabr. Sphinx, Linn. Drury.
Syntomis Cerbera. Viridi-atra, alis anticis punctis sex fenestratis, posticis duobus, abdomine cingulis duobus sanguineis (postico latissimo).
Syn. Sphinx Cerbera, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 806. 38. Cramer, tab. 83. fig. F.
Zygæna Cerbera, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 391. No. 16.
Sphinx Cerbera, Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2393. 38.
Syntomis Cerbera, Boisduv. Monogr. Zygæn. pl. 7. f. 6.
Habitat: Cape of Good Hope.
Upper Side. Antennæ and head black. Thorax and abdomen shining blueish green; the latter having on the middle three rings of scarlet extending from side to side, but not meeting underneath. Anterior wings dark green, with six transparent spots like glass on them; the smallest, near the base, is round; three others, placed next the external margin, are oblong; the other two, which are in the middle, are oval and triangular. Posterior wings dark green, with two transparent spots; the largest next the shoulders; the other, which is round and small, beyond the middle.
Under Side. Breast, abdomen, and legs shining mazarine blue, inclining to green; on the former is a small red spot, close to the shoulders of the superior wings. The hinder legs have one joint white. Wings of the same colour as on the upper side.
Plate XXVI. fig. 3.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Deilephila, Ochsenheimer. Spectrum p. Scop. Sphinx p. Linn.
Deilephila Chiron. Alis anticis castaneis, fasciâ obliquâ pallidâ utrinque fusco marginatâ, posticis nigris maculis quinque albidis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Chiron, Drury, App. vol. 2.
Habitat: Jamaica.
Upper Side. Antennæ and head chesnut; a flesh-coloured line encircles the eyes, running to the shoulders, where it becomes white. Thorax chesnut. Abdomen rather paler on the top; underneath very light clay colour. Anterior wings sorrel chesnut, having two faint oblique waved lines crossing them from the tips to the middle of the posterior edges, where is a small cloud the colour of blue clay, and next the shoulders is a small narrow cream-coloured mark. Posterior wings dark brown, with a row of yellow cream-coloured spots running from the anal angle towards the middle of the anterior margin.
Under Side. Breast and abdomen very pale clay colour. Anterior wings at the base pale clay-coloured, towards the middle darker; from thence to the tips prettily clouded with orange and clay-coloured marks, divided by dark lines, and many small dark brown spots. Posterior wings along the interior margin clay-coloured, and along the extreme part of the anterior edges the same; the remainder of the wings dull orange, faintly shaded and spotted with brown marks and dots.
Plate XXVI. fig. 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia? Family: Zygænidæ, Leach.
Genus. Zygæna? Fabr. Anthrocera, Scop. Sphinx, Drury.
Zygæna? Thetis. Cœrulea, thorace anticè rubro punctato, alis nigris, anticis apice, posticis disco, hyalinis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Thetis, Linn. Mantiss. 1. 539.
Zygæna Thetis, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 391. No. 17. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2393. 115. (Sphinx T.)
Habitat: Jamaica.
Upper Side. Antennæ black. Head and thorax black. On the neck are two small scarlet spots just above the eyes, and one on each side below them. Abdomen silvery shining blue, having a triangular black mark at the base. Anterior wings dirty black, immaculate; tips whitish. Posterior wings dirty black, with a white discoidal transparent cloud.
Under Side. Breast and sides dirty black. Abdomen white; its sides and tip dirty black. Wings of the same colour as on the upper side.
Plate XXVI. fig. 5.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sesiidæ, Steph.
Genus. Macroglossa, Ochs. Macroglossum, Scop. Sphinx, Fabr. Drury.
Macroglossa Zonata. Alis nigricantibus, anticis punctis tribus subapicalibus, abdominisque fasciâ albis. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Zonata, Drury, App. vol. 2.
Habitat: St. Christopher's.
Upper Side. Antennæ dark brown, hooked at the extremities; the under sides being paler. Thorax and abdomen dark greyish brown; the extremity of the latter broad and hairy, with a white transverse central fascia; between which and the extremity are three small lateral white spots. Anterior wings very dark brown, with three transparent minute spots beyond the middle; above which, near the anterior margin, is a single black one. Posterior wings dark brown, immaculate.
Under Side. The middle of the abdomen at the base ash-coloured, extending about half way, narrowing gradually; the middle of each of the segments being the same. Posterior wings coloured as on the upper side; the posterior, along the interior margin to the shoulders, being ash-coloured.
Plate XXVII. fig. 1.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Sphinx, Auct.
Sphinx Alope. Alis dentatis fuscis, strigis dentatis nigris, posticis fulvis apice latè nigris; abdomine nigro cingulis interruptis pallidis. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Alope, Drury, App. vol. 2. Cramer, 26. tab. 301. fig. G. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 362. No. 20. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2375. 62.
Habitat: Jamaica.
Upper Side. Antennæ red brown above, white underneath. Head and thorax dark brown; head and thorax with a black dorsal line. Abdomen encircled with rings of brown and dark ash colour, divided on the top by a dark ash-coloured line running from the thorax to the extremity. Posterior wings dark brown coloured, having some dark irregular lines, almost black, crossing them from the anterior to the posterior margin, and a row of small black angular marks running along their external margin; these wings are a little dentated. Posterior wings yellow, with a deep black border.
Under Side. Abdomen dark ash-coloured. Anterior wings brown, spotted along their external edges with long yellowish spots. Posterior wings brown, with a deep border; the middle of the wings and abdominal edges being yellow; a narrow black indented line begins at the abdominal corners, and crossing the wings ends at the anterior margin below the middle.
Fabricius, on the authority of Dr. Pflug, states that this insect frequents the Carica Papaya. The larva is tailed, without hairs, the back cinereous anteriorly, with a broad fascia of a brown colour, ocellated in the middle and ending in a black spot. The chrysalis is brown, with red annuli and striæ.
Plate XXVII. fig. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Sphinx, Auct.
Sphinx Pinastri. Alis cinereis, anticis lineolis tribus confertis nigris; abdomine fusco, cingulis atris suprà albo marginatis et dorso interruptis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Pinastri, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 892. No. 22. Sepp. Ins. 3. 23. t. 5. Roesel. Ins. Belust. 1. Phal. 1. t. 6. Donov. Engl. Ins. ix. 10. pl. 296. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 367. No. 35. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2385. 22. Stephens Illust. Brit. Ent. Haust. 1. 121.
Habitat: Germany (Drury). England, and other parts of Europe.
Upper Side. Antennæ white on one side, and brown on the other. Head and thorax brown grey; the latter at the base being ash-coloured, having a black line running on each side. Abdomen brown grey, encircled with rings of a dirty black, divided on the top by a broad line of brown grey, through which runs a black line from the base to the extremity. Anterior wings brown grey, with three short black lines in the middle of each wing; at the tips rises another irregular narrow black line, running towards the middle of the wing, and chequered with white and black. Posterior wings brown grey, immaculate, being a little paler towards the shoulders; the wings are entire. Cilia alternately black and white.
Under Side. The breast and abdomen are ash-coloured. All the wings brown grey, immaculate. Cilia spotted as above.
This insect is attached to the pine, and is consequently found in the great forests in Germany, and other parts of Continental Europe. This accounts for its scarcity in England, and for its having been occasionally found in the pine forests of Scotland by Dr. Leach and Mr. Wilson. The larva is described by Mr. Stephens as being entirely yellow in its first skin, in the second green with yellow stripes, in the third deeper green, with three longitudinal lemon-yellow lines on each side, and finally of a rich green with a brown dorsal line; the sides with two deep yellow ones; the anterior and first segment of the body yellow, the latter spotted with black; the horn, which was previously straight, becomes curved and black. It feeds on various species of pine, as Pinus abies, sylvestris, Strobus, &c. The chrysalis is dark brown, changing to maroon; the tongue-sheath is short.
Plate XXVII. fig. 3.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Sphinx, Auct.
Sphinx Ello. Alis subdentatis cinereis; posticis rufis margine nigro; abdomine pallido cingulis (dorso interruptis) nigris. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Ello, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. p. 800. No. 13. Cramer, tab. 301. fig. D. Merian Surin. t. 61. f. 2. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 362. No. 21. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2375. 13.
Habitat: St. Christopher's (Drury). Surinam (Mad. Merian).
Upper Side. Antennæ white on one side, and brown on the other. Head and thorax ash-coloured; the latter having some faint narrow dorsal and lateral black lines. Abdomen ash-coloured, encircled with black rings extending to its sides, divided on the top by an ash-coloured line. Anterior wings dentated and ash-coloured, having an irregular shade of black and dark brown running from the tips to the shoulders, and a few small black spots dispersed on different parts of the wings. Posterior wings red, with a black border. Cilia reddish white.
Under Side. Breast, thighs, legs, and abdomen ash-coloured. Anterior wings, in the middle, ferruginous; but toward the external edges and the tips dirty red brown. Posterior wings next the shoulders and interior margin ash-coloured, but in the middle of a reddish colour; along the anterior margin they are of a brown grey, and along the external margin they are of a dirty red brown. These wings are a little dentated.
Plate XXVIII. fig. 1.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Sphinx, Auct.
Sphinx Vitis. Alis anticis olivaceo-fuscis, fasciâ, vittâ lineisque pallidis; posticis cinereis fasciâ nigrâ margineque roseo. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc.)
Syn. Sphinx Vitis, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 801. No. 16. Merian Surin. tab. 47. f. 1. Cram. Ins. tab. 267. fig. C. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 369. No. 41. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2380. 16. Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georgia, 1, t. 40.
Habitat: Antigua, Jamaica, St. Christopher's (Drury). "In vitæ Americes" (Linn.). "Magnolia glauca" (Fabr.). "Jussiæa erecta" (Abbot and Smith).
Upper Side. Head and thorax dark flesh-coloured; on the latter, near the neck, is a long spot of olive brown, with another on each side. Abdomen dark flesh-coloured, having two olive brown streaks above, extending from the base to the extremity, being intersected by narrow flesh-coloured annuli or rings. The ground of the anterior wings is a fine olive brown; a flesh-coloured bar begins at the tips, and running parallel with the anterior margin at the middle of the wing, divides into two branches, one continues to the shoulder margin, the other terminates at the middle of the posterior margin; on the upper part of the bar is placed a small flesh-coloured mark, discoidal, the middle being black; near the tips arises also from the upper side a second smaller branch, which runs to the anterior edge, which, with the external margin, has a narrow border of a rusty clay colour. Posterior wings with their external edges bordered with red; above which is a black bar, extending from the anterior edge to the anal angle, where it is much fainter; the inner margin also red, with a large black patch thereon. The upper parts of the wings are of a blueish ash colour. Nerves pale.
Under Side. Breast, thighs, and abdomen dark flesh-coloured. The colours of all the wings on this side are faint, being principally of a clay colour; the inferior ones, next the abdominal edges, being tinged with red.
The caterpillar of this beautiful Sphinx is remarkable for having only a slight protuberance at the extremity of the body in place of the erect spine or tail, which is possessed by the majority of the caterpillars of the Sphingidæ. It is of a pale yellowish colour, with numerous slender transverse black lines, and white oblique lateral marks directed towards the head. Its food is very various. One, observed by Abbot, went into the ground on the 14th of August, and came out on the 7th of September; whilst another which went in on the 29th of September, did not come out until the 18th of July following. The moth is rare; but may occasionally be seen sucking the gourd blossoms in the evening. The chrysalis has a pointed tail, but is destitute of a porrected tongue-case.
Plate XXVIII. fig. 2.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Thyreus, Swains. Zool. Illustr. vol. 1.
Thyreus Lugubris. Alis brunneis, anticis strigis undatis parallelis punctoque subocellari atris. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Lugubris, Linn. Mant. 2. 537.Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 356. No. 5. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2372. 50. Abbot and Smith Ins. Georg. 1. t. 30. Swainson Zool. Illustr. 1st Series, vol. 1.
Habitat: Antigua (Drury). Georgia (Abbot).
Upper Side. Antennæ, head, thorax, and abdomen dark brown. The tail very broad and hairy. All the wings dark brown chesnut; having very few distinct marks or lines, except the anterior pair, which have a small black discoidal spot, and a very narrow line next the shoulders of a lighter brown, crossing them from the anterior to the posterior edges. The posterior wings are slightly, the anterior deeply, dentated.
Under Side. Thorax, legs, abdomen, upper and lower wings rather paler than on the upper side. On the anterior wings are two very faint brown lines, crossing them from the anterior to the posterior edges, situated between the middle and the external margin. On the posterior wings also are two small faint waved lines of a darker colour, beginning at the anterior edges and ending a little above the abdominal corners.
The caterpillar of this hawk-moth was found by Abbot on the Virginian Creeper. It went into the ground on the 18th of August, and the fly came out on the 11th of September. The tail of the male spreads like a fan. This is a very rare species; one was caught in the evening on a gourd blossom. It flew exceedingly swift, making a noise like a humble bee. The caterpillar is of a very pale greenish colour, with two dark dorsal lines, terminating at the base of the straight tail; the sides of the body are also ornamented with pale yellow oblique stripes, margined with brown. The chrysalis is chesnut, with a short point at the extremity of the body, and without any tongue-case.
Plate XXVIII. fig. 3.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Deilephila, Ochs. Eumorphæ p. Hübn. Sphinx p. Fabr.
Deilephila Tersa. Alis anticis griseis, lineis nonnullis obliquis parallelis nigris; posticis nigris fasciâ maculari luteo-albâ. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc.)
Syn. Sphinx Tersa, Linn. Mant. p. 538. Drury, App. vol. 2. Cramer, tab. 397. fig. C. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 378. No. 69. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2379. No. 71. Abbot and Smith Ins. Georg. 1. tab. 38.
Habitat: Maryland, Jamaica, St. Christopher, Antigua (Drury). South America (Fabricius). Georgia (Abbot).
Upper Side. Head flesh-coloured; which colour, separating at the neck, runs on each side of the thorax to the abdomen. Thorax and abdomen dark clay colour. Abdomen pointed; the sides being of a yellower colour than the top. Anterior wings greyish olive brown; from the tips to the middle of the posterior margin run several narrow lines of lighter and darker colours, parallel with each other. Posterior wings, at the base, black; but along the external margin brown; having a row of narrow angular marks of a cream colour running from the anal angle to the anterior edges. Cilia white.
Under Side. Thorax and abdomen clay-coloured; paler on the middle than the sides. Wings red clay-coloured; the anterior brown in the middle, and the posterior having some faint waved lines crossing them; each wing having a row of faint small spots along their external margin.
The caterpillar of this insect, figured by Abbot and Smith, is of a pale green colour, with the three anterior segments elongated and attenuated in front, having seven beautiful white eye-like spots on each side, with a red pupil, and margined with black; the anterior ocellus being the largest. These ocelli are united by a lateral white line, terminating at the base of the straight red tail. It feeds upon the wild thyme (Spermacoce Hyssopifolia, Sm.) Some of them are stated by Abbot to be brown. One was observed by the same author to spin itself up on the 31st of July, from which the moth appeared on the 15th of August; whilst another which spun up on the 11th of September, remained in the chrysalis state until the 9th of May. When disturbed, the caterpillar contracts the anterior segments of the body.[22] The chrysalis is of a pale brown colour, freckled with darker marks. It is not provided with a porrected tongue-case.
Plate XXVIII. fig. 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Crepuscularia. Family: Sphingidæ, Leach.
Genus. Sphinx, Auct.
Sphinx Strigiles. Alis integerrimis griseis, margine externo anticarum obscuro; posticis fulvis strigis tribus transversis fuscis. (Expans. Alar. 5 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Sphinx Strigiles, Linn. Mant. p. 538. Cramer, tab. 106. f. B. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 364. No. 26. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2377. No. 66.
Habitat: Jamaica.
Upper Side. Head, thorax, and abdomen fawn-coloured; having on each abdominal segment a semicircle of a paler colour. A brown red spot is placed on each side the thorax, near the base of the upper wings, which are fawn-coloured; having a round spot of olive brown on each near the shoulders, and another on the middle of the posterior margin, between which and the anterior angle is a patch of a blueish brown; from this angle to the tip runs a small narrow border of yellow brown, with several short, faint, brown circular marks placed on different parts of the wing. Posterior wings pale orange; having three brown, narrow, waved lines crossing them in the middle, and with a narrow brown border.
Under Side. The mouth, thorax, thighs, abdomen, superior and inferior wings are all of a red clay colour. The border, along the external margin of the anterior wing, is of a much paler colour. Several reddish brown lines and marks are also placed on different parts of the wings.